LINDALE, Texas — An East Texas man is still healing from a tragedy, but received the news every volunteer like him wants to hear.
Kyle Frasier and his late wife Jennie both loved to help others and had a passion for volunteer work.
"Jennie and I were both active volunteer Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison ministers," Frasier said.
Kyle was the one who got Jennie involved from in prison ministry.
"I wasn’t really sure how she would do, but I was wrong. I was really really wrong because she was just like a fish in the water. From the first time she walked in there they received her, they just loved her ministry and she would sing, she had a beautiful voice. She loved people more than anyone I’ve ever known in my life," Kyle said.
In July 2023, while Jennie was on a group trip to minister at women's prisons in Central Texas, tragedy struck.
"On the way home there was an accident in the van they were driving and my wife lost her life," he said.
Almost a year later now, Jennie’s light still shines. This Friday, Kyle will travel to Austin to accept the Governor's Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Award on Jennie's behalf. There are over 20,000 criminal justice volunteers in Texas. So this award is a big honor.
"As prison ministers, you’re always aware of the volunteer service award and how prestigious it is. So for Jennie to be honored like this she would just be ecstatic," Kyle said.
Kyle said he works every day with Jennie in mind and he remembers her drive to help others.
"I know that she’s very happy now looking down and seeing what the Lord has done with our organization that we founded together and what the Lord’s continuing to do with it," he said.
And that won’t ever change.
"I just want to honor her legacy and the impact she made in so many people's lives," Kyle said.